Toe protection cap and footgear comprising toe protection cap

ABSTRACT

A toe cap for shoes comprises an arcuate peripheral wall capable of covering a front part and two side parts of the toe cap, a top wall and a bottom wall capable of covering top and bottom parts, respectively, of the toe cap and being connected to the arcuate peripheral wall. The wall defines a rear opening for a user&#39;s toes to be accommodated in a space defined by said walls, and the top wall comprises a rearside edge having the shape of a letter “S”. This abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of EuropeanPatent Application No. 09 168 387.0, filed on Aug. 21, 2009, and ofEuropean Patent Application No. 09 174 685.9, filed on Oct. 30, 2009,the entire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by referenceherein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a toe protection cap. In particular,the invention relates to a toe protection cap for providing improvedventilation to the toes of the wearer without a necessity of taking asignificant loss of the toe protection cap in mechanical resistance toimpacts or pushes. In another aspect, the invention relates to a toeprotection cap for providing improved ventilation to the forefootincluding the toes of the wearer without a necessity of taking asignificant loss of the toe protection cap in mechanical resistance toimpacts or pushes. The invention also relates to footgear, e. g. safetyshoes, protective shoes, occupation shoes, sports shoes, to name only afew without wanting to restrict the term, comprising such a toeprotection cap as a means for substantially preventing the toes of awearer, or as a means for preventing the forefoot of a wearer includingthe toes of said wearer, from being hit by impacts or pushes by tools,constructional materials, debris, pieces of sports equipment etc.

2. Discussion of Background Information

The human foot, due to its adaptation to the erect movement of a human,is an anatomically and functionally highly complex part of the body.Even minor mechanical influences to the muscles or bones of the feetresult into major discomfort or even pain, and a physical injury to thefeet may even have the consequence that a person has to refrain fromwalking, and thereby loose the possibility of movement, for the time ofcompletely healing the injury. Having these facts in view, the workingenvironment always emphasized protecting the feet of workers reliably,for example by suitable shoes. Wearing safety shoes or safety boots is,hence, an obligatory requirement in many areas where a risk exists thatthe feet may be harmed, for example in the steel industry, buildingindustry, in the gardening and landscaping fields, for firefighters andrescue service people as well as for soldiers.

Safety shoes usually are midheight footwear made of leather and/orrubber or other polymers as, for example, polyurethane or thermoplasticpolyurethane. Safety boots reach a height sufficient for protecting thefoot including a part of the lower leg; they are made, in most of thecases, either of leather or of rubber (where protection against water isneeded). The sole of safety shoes/boots usually has an exposed profilefor preventing the wearer from slipping and is often made of a highstrength material in order to give the person wearing the shoe/boot asafe stand. In many cases, additional strengthening andpuncture-preventing materials as, for example, steel plates or hardpolymer parts made of, for example, Kevlar^(R) of ParaAmide^(R) areincorporated into the soles of safety shoes or safety boots.

From the safety point of view, the toes, and also the forefoot includingthe toes, usually are the best protected part of the foot: Safety shoesor safety boots are usually provided with a protective cap made ofsteel, aluminum or high-strength plastics at their forepart in order toprotect the toes against injuries resulting from heavy objects fallingdown.

US-2005/0144809 A1 discloses a composite-reinforced toe cap for a shoe,which includes multiple composite fiber reinforcement layers and alarger fiber layer laminated between and extending out from thecomposite fiber reinforcement layers. The fiber layer is made ofcontinuous strands. The composite fiber reinforcement layers are made offiber-reinforced plastic composite materials, are laminated on the fiberlayer to form a pre-product toe cap. A bonding coating is applied to thefiber layer that extends beyond the composite fiber reinforcement layerto form a binding. The pre-product is cured and has a binding that canbe sewn to the sole, upper or tongue of a shoe.

US 2006/0213086 A1 discloses a metal toe cap for safety shoes whichincludes an arcuate peripheral wall that tapers forward, a top wall, anda bottom wall defining a rear opening for receiving the toes of a user.The peripheral wall and the top wall are connected by an upper arcuatetransition section having a thickness that increases toward the top wallsuch that the top wall has a thickness greater than that of theperipheral wall. The impact-resisting property of the top wall is thusimproved.

As many other known toe caps, these toe caps of the prior art have noventilation in the front part of the toe cap, and hence, sweat orhumidity cannot escape. This not only results into discomfort to thewearer of the shoe, but also creates ideal conditions for diseases andmicro-organisms to develop.

Hence, it would be advantageous to be able to provide a toe cap for ashoe which allows sweat and humidity to escape from the inner space ofthe toe cap, without giving up stability and safety features of the toecap.

It further would be advantageous to be able to provide a toe cap for ashoe allowing a reliable protection for the whole toe area of the footof a user. Moreover, it would be desirable to provide a toe cap for ashoe allowing a greater comfort to the wearer than with conventional toecaps for shoes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a toe cap (1) for shoes. The toe capcomprises an arcuate peripheral wall (3) capable of covering the frontpart (3 a) and the two side parts (3 b, 3 c) of the toe cap (1), a topwall (5) and a bottom wall (7) capable of covering the top and bottomparts (5 a, 7 a), respectively, of the toe cap (1) and being connectedto said arcuate peripheral wall (3), said walls (3, 5 and 7) defining arear opening (8) for a user's toes to be accommodated in the spacedefined by said walls (3, 5, 7). The top wall (5) comprises a rearsideedge (5 b) having the shape of the letter “S”, thereby allowing aprotection of all toes of a user.

In one aspect of the toe cap of the present invention, the top wall (5)may be provided with a number of holes (5 c) regularly or irregularly,preferably regularly, distributed throughout its surface.

In another aspect, some holes (5 c), preferably the majority of theholes (5 c), more preferably each hole (5 c) in the surface of the topwall (5) may be surrounded by a system of fillets (5 d) strengtheningthe toe cap (1). Further, the fillets (5 d) may form a hexagon aroundthe hole (5 c), preferably around each hole (5 c), said hexagons forminga honeycomb structure at the top wall surface of the toe cap (1).

In yet another aspect of the toe cap, the top wall surface may compriseadditional fillets (5 e) extending from one point or hole radially overthe whole surface of the top wall (5), thereby additionallystrengthening the toe cap structure.

In a still further aspect of the toe cap, the peripheral wall (3) maycomprise strengthening fillets (3 d) on its side directed to the innerspace.

In another aspect of the toe cap of the present invention, the bottomwall (7) may be formed of a fillet (7 b) extending along the connectionof the bottom wall (7) to the peripheral wall (3), continuing at therearside edge into a fillet (7 c) having the shape of a letter “S” andextending in parallel to the corresponding edge of the top wall (5),said filets (7 b, 7 c) being bridged by at least one furtherstrengthening fillet (7 d). Further, the bottom wall fillets (7 b, 7 c,7 d) may be provided with strengthening fillets (7 e) over their wholesurface. For example, the bottom wall fillets (7 b, 7 c, 7 d) may beprovided with honeycomb structure fillets (7 e).

In another aspect, the toe cap may be made of at least one materialselected from plastics, reinforced plastics, metals and alloys ofmetals, for example, from steel and/or fiber-reinforced polyamide.

In yet another aspect, the toe cap of the present invention may be madeas one upper half cap (1 a) and one lower half cap (1 b) and connectedto the toe cap (1) before further use.

The present invention also provides a toe cap (1) for shoes thatcomprises an arcuate peripheral wall (3) capable of making up the frontpart (3 a) and the two side parts (3 b, 3 c) of the toe cap (1), a topwall (5) and a bottom wall (7) capable of making up the top and bottomparts (5 a, 7 a), respectively, of the toe cap (1) and being connectedto said arcuate peripheral wall (3). The rear edges of said walls (3, 5and 7) define a rear opening (8) for a user's toes to be accommodated inthe space defined by said walls (3, 5, 7), and at least the top wall (5)comprises holes (5 c) regularly or irregularly distributed throughoutits surface, and each hole (5 c) is surrounded by a system of fillets (5d) strengthening the toe cap (1). The system of fillets (5 d) at leastin said top wall (5) is present as a closed network structure havingsaid holes as void spaces (5 c) between said fillets (5 d).

In one aspect of the toe cap, at least the top wall (5) may compriseholes (5 c) regularly distributed throughout its surface, said holes (5c) being void spaces between said closed network structure of fillets (5d) formed at least at the top wall (5) of said toe cap (1).

In another aspect, the top wall (5) may comprise holes (5 c) regularlydistributed throughout its surface, said holes (5 c) being void spacesbetween said closed network structure of fillets (5 d) formed at the topwall (5) of said toe cap (1); or the top wall (5) and said arcuateperipheral wall (3) capable of making up the front part (3 a) and thetwo side parts (3 b, 3 c) of the toe cap (1) may comprise holes (5 c)regularly distributed throughout their surface, said holes (5 c) beingvoid spaces between said closed network structure of fillets (5 d)formed at the top wall (5) and at the arcuate peripheral wall (3) ofsaid toe cap (1).

In yet another aspect, the closed network structure of fillets (5 d) mayform hexagons around each of the void spaces (5 c). For example, saidhexagons may form a honeycomb-type closed network structure at least atthe top wall surface of the toe cap (1), preferably at the top walland/or arcuate peripheral wall surfaces, more preferably at the top wallsurface and at the arcuate peripheral wall surface of the toe cap (1).

In a still further aspect of the toe cap, the top wall (5) may comprisea rearside edge (5 b) having the shape of a letter “S”, thereby allowinga protection of all toes of a user.

In another aspect, at least the top wall surface may comprise additionalfillets (5 e) extending from one point at said rearside edge (5 b)radially across the whole surface at least of the top wall (5), therebyadditionally strengthening the toe cap structure. For example, it maycomprise additional fillets (5 e) extending from one point at saidrearside edge (5 b) radially across the whole surface of the top wall(5) and of the arcuate peripheral wall (3), thereby additionallystrengthening the toe cap structure. Preferably it may compriseadditional fillets (5 e) extending from one point located substantiallyin the middle, relative to said side parts (3 b, 3 c) of the arcuateperipheral wall (3), at said rearside edge (5 b) radially across thewhole surface of the top wall (5) and of the arcuate peripheral wall(3), thereby additionally strengthening the toe cap structure. Further,the number of such additional fillets (5 e) extending across the wholesurface of the top wall (5) and of the arcuate peripheral wall (3) maybe from about three and about five.

In another aspect of the toe cap, the toe cap may comprise additionalfillets (50 along the upper and lower peripheral edges connecting thetop and bottom walls (5, 7) to the arcuate peripheral wall (3). Forexample, the additional fillets (5 e, 5 f) may comprise grooves (5 g)running within, and in parallel to, the additional fillets (5 e, 5 f).

In yet another aspect, the bottom wall (7) of the toe cap may compriseor consist of a rim (7 b) extending from, and being connected to, thearcuate peripheral wall (3) along its front and two side parts (3 a, 3b, 3 c) in a substantially perpendicular arrangement, said rimpreferably being of a width allowing a convenient placement of theforefoot sole and underside of the toes on it, more preferably being ofa width within a range of from about 0.5 to about 5 centimeters (cm).

In another aspect, the toe cap may be made of at least one materialselected from plastics, reinforced plastics, metals and alloys ofmetals. For example, it may be made of steel and/or fiber-reinforcedpolyamide.

In yet another aspect, the toe cap may be made as one upper half cap (1a) and one lower half cap (1 b) and connected to the toe cap (1) beforefurther use.

The present invention also provides a toe cap (1) for shoes or boots orfootgear that comprises an arcuate peripheral wall (3) capable of makingup the front part (3 a) and the two side parts (3 b, 3 c) of the toe cap(1), a top wall (5) and a optionally a bottom wall (7) capable of makingup the top (5 a) and (optionally) bottom (7 a) parts, respectively, ofthe toe cap (1) and being connected to said arcuate peripheral wall (3).The rear edges of said walls (3, 5, 7) define a rear opening (8) for auser's toes to be accommodated in the space defined by said walls (3, 5,7). Further, at least the top wall (5) is made of at least threelongitudinal fillets (5 p, 5 q, 5 r) extending from the tip (T) of thetoe cap (1) radially to its rear edge, and at least one transversefillet (5 t) extending substantially in the form of a segment of acircle around the tip (T) of said toe cap (1), and/or the arcuateperipheral wall (3) comprises at its side parts alternating vertical (3p) and inclined (3 q) fillets connecting the upper and lower edges ofthe arcuate peripheral wall. The fillets (5 p, 5 q, 5 r, 5 t, 3 p, 3 q)leave between them regular or irregular holes or voids distributed atleast throughout the toe cap top wall (5) and arcuate peripheral sidewall (3) surfaces. The fillets strengthen the toe cap (1) along itslines of stabilizing force.

In one aspect of the toe cap, the top wall (5) may comprise a rearsideedge (5 b) having the shape of a letter “S”, thereby allowing aprotection of all toes of a user.

100311 In another aspect, only the top wall (5) may be made of at leastthree longitudinal fillets (5 p, 5 q, 5 r) extending from the tip (T) ofthe toe cap (1) radially to its rear edge. For example, the top wall (5)may be made of three longitudinal fillets (5 p, 5 q, 5 r) extending fromthe tip (T) of the toe cap (1) radially to its rear edge, and of atleast one transverse fillet (5 t) extending substantially in the form ofa segment of a circle around the tip (T) of said toe cap (1), preferablyone transverse fillet (5 t) extending substantially in the form of asegment of a circle around the tip (T) of said toe cap (1).

In yet another aspect, the toe cap may be made of at least one materialselected from plastics, reinforced plastics, metals and alloys ofmetals. For example, it may be made of steel and/or fiber-reinforcedpolyamide, more preferably from plastics, reinforced plastics, mostpreferably from fiber-reinforced polyamide.

The present invention also provides a footgear or shoe that comprises atoe cap (1) according to the present invention as set forth above(including the various aspects thereof). For example, the footgear orshoe may be a safety shoe, a protective shoe, an occupation shoe, or asports shoe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is further described in the detailed descriptionwhich follows, in reference to the drawings by way of non-limitingexamples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a toe cap of the invention having holes and filletssurrounding the holes;

FIG. 2 shows a toe cap of the invention having no holes but havingfillets;

FIG. 3 shows a magnified view to a part of the top wall 5 of the toe capof the invention, from which the holes 5 c, the fillets 5 d and theadditional fillets 5 e may be seen;

FIG. 4 shows a magnified view to the inner space of the toe cap of theinvention defined by the peripheral, top and bottom walls 3, 5 and 7,where the optional strengthening fillets 3 d on the inner side of theperipheral wall 3 directed to the inner space may be seen;

FIG. 5 a shows the bottom wall 7 of the toe cap of the invention formedas claimed in claim 7;

FIG. 5 b shows the toe cap of FIG. 2 (no holes) without the bottom wall,but showing at the inner side of the peripheral wall 3 the optionalstrengthening fillets 3 d;

FIG. 6 shows the toe cap (no holes on the top wall) of the presentinvention divided along the peripheral wall 3 into an top cap part and abottom cap part so that the optional strengthening fillets 3 d may beseen;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view to a toe cap of the second aspect of theinvention having, in the embodiment shown in the Figure, fillets at itstop surface and at the surface of the arcuate peripheral wall capable ofmaking up the front and side parts of the toe cap, said filletssurrounding the holes, which holes are void spaces between the fillets;

FIG. 8 shows the toe cap of the second aspect of the invention as shownin FIG. 7, but viewed from another perspective;

FIG. 9 shows a magnified view to the rear part opening of the toe capaccording to the second aspect of the invention, said rear part beingdefined by the rear edges of the top wall and the rear edges of the sideparts of the arcuate peripheral wall of the toe cap of the second aspectof the invention; in this rear side view, also the rim embodiment of thebottom wall of the toe cap may be seen;

FIG. 10 shows a magnified view, from the rear side, into the inner spaceof the toe cap of the second aspect of the invention defined by the rearedges of the peripheral and top walls; also in this rear side view, therim embodiment of the bottom wall of the toe cap may be seen, too;

FIG. 11 shows a view to the toe cap of the second aspect of the presentinvention from the front side; in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, thefillets surrounding the void spaces as well as the additional filletshaving included parallel grooves may be seen;

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view to a right foot toe cap of the thirdaspect of the invention having, in the embodiment shown in the Figure,longitudinal and transverse fillets at its top surface and havingvertical and inclined fillets at the surface of the arcuate peripheralwall capable of making up the front and side parts of the toe cap, withthe exception of the front part, said fillets surrounding the holes,which holes are void spaces between the fillets;

FIG. 13 shows a side perspective view of the toe cap of the presentinvention according to FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 shows a top side view of the toe cap of the present inventionaccording to FIG. 12; and

FIG. 15 shows a view of the toe cap of the invention according to FIG.12 from the rear side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes ofillustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention onlyand are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be themost useful and readily understood description of the principles andconceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attemptis made to show structural details of the present invention in moredetail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of thepresent invention, the description taken with the drawings makingapparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of thepresent invention may be embodied in practice.

As set forth above, the present invention provides, inter alia, a toecap for shoes that comprises an arcuate peripheral wall capable ofcovering the front part and the two side parts of the toe cap, a topwall and a bottom wall capable of covering the top and bottom parts,respectively, of the toe cap and being connected to said arcuateperipheral wall, said walls defining a rear opening for a user's toes tobe accommodated in the space defined by said walls, said top wall havinga rearside edge having the shape of a letter “S”, thereby allowing aprotection of all toes of a user.

Moreover, it was found in the present invention surprisingly that,without giving up stability and safety features of the toe protectioncap, the holes may be made larger than in the toe protection capsproposed earlier, if the structure and arrangement of the fillets ismaintained. Even the toe protection cap top wall surface areas filingthe space between the fillets may be omitted by creating voids, therebygenerating a very much improved ventilation, without that the stabilityand strength of the toe protection cap is diminished and with the effectthat a safety of the forefoot and toes against falling tools/matters canbe guaranteed. Even more surprisingly, it was found that also the frontand side parts of the toe protection cap may be provided with a similarventilation by a system of fillets and holes, or omitted toe protectioncap front and/or side wall surface areas, between said fillets, withoutthat a loss of the stability and strength of the toe protection cap hadto be observed.

Hence, the present invention also provides a toe cap for a shoe or bootor footgear which allows sweat and humidity to escape from the innerspace of the toe cap, without giving up stability and safety features ofthe toe cap.

Further, the present invention also provides a toe cap for a shoeallowing a reliable protection for the whole toe and forefoot area ofthe foot of a wearer or user. Moreover, it provides a toe cap for a shoeallowing a greater comfort to the wearer or user than with conventionaltoe caps for shoes.

Thus, the invention, in a second aspect, relates to a toe cap for shoesor boots or footgear comprising an arcuate peripheral wall capable ofmaking up the front part and the two side parts of the toe cap, a topwall and a bottom wall capable of making up the top and bottom parts,respectively, of the toe cap and being connected to said arcuateperipheral wall, the rear edges of said walls defining a rear openingfor a user's toes to be accommodated in the space defined by said walls,wherein at least said top wall is provided with a number of holesregularly or irregularly distributed throughout its surface, and eachhole is surrounded by a system of fillets strengthening the toe cap,wherein said system of fillets at least in said top wall is present as aclosed network structure having said holes as void spaces between saidfillets.

In addition, it was found in the present invention surprisingly that,without giving up stability and safety features of the toe protectioncap, the holes may be made even larger than in the toe protection capsproposed above, if a specific structure and arrangement of the filletsis installed. Even the toe protection cap top wall may compriserelatively large voids, thereby generating a very much improvedventilation, without that the stability and strength of the toeprotection cap is diminished, and nevertheless, the safety of theforefoot and toes against falling tools/matters can be guaranteed. Evenmore surprisingly, it was found that also the front and side parts ofthe toe protection cap may be provided with a similar ventilation by asystem of strong fillets and large holes, without that a loss of thestability and strength of the toe protection cap had to be observed.

Hence, the present invention also provides a toe cap for a shoe or bootor footgear which allows sweat and humidity to escape from the innerspace of the toe cap through large ventilation holes, without giving upstability and safety features of the toe cap.

Further, the present invention provides a toe cap for a shoe allowing areliable protection for the whole toe and forefoot area of the foot of awearer or user, despite larger holes between the fillets. Moreover, thepresent invention provides a toe cap for a shoe allowing a greatercomfort to the wearer or user than with conventional toe caps for shoes.

Thus, the invention, in a third aspect, relates to a toe cap for shoesor boots or footgear comprising an arcuate peripheral wall capable ofmaking up the front part and the two side parts of the toe cap, a topwall and a optionally a bottom wall capable of making up the top and(optionally) bottom parts, respectively, of the toe cap and beingconnected to said arcuate peripheral wall, the rear edges of said wallsdefining a rear opening for a user's toes to be accommodated in thespace defined by said walls, wherein at least said top wall is made ofat least three longitudinal fillets extending from the tip of the toecap radially to its rear edge and at least one transverse filletextending substantially in the form of a segment of a circle around thetip of said toe cap, and the arcuate peripheral wall has at its sideparts alternating vertical and inclined fillets connecting the upper andlower edges of said arcuate peripheral wall, said fillets leavingbetween them a number of regular or irregular holes/voids distributed atleast throughout the toe cap top wall and arcuate peripheral side wallsurfaces, wherein the fillets strengthen the toe cap along its lines ofstabilizing force.

The invention also relates to shoes comprising a toe cap of theinvention as described below in detail. Such shoes may be safety shoes,protective shoes, occupation shoes, sports shoes, to name only a few ofshoes wherein the toe cap of the invention may be used, without,however, restricting the invention to those shoes.

The term “front”, when used in the present specification and claims, isunderstood to mean a point or side or edge or arcuate wall of the toecap of the present invention, in its form as used in a shoe or boot,which is at the side of the toe cap housing the tiptoes and, hence, isadjacent to (and housed by) the front part of a shoe. On the other hand,the term “rear”, when used in the present specification and claims, isunderstood to mean a point or side or edge of the toe cap of the presentinvention, in its form as used in a shoe or boot, which is at the sideof the toe cap opposite to the tiptoe side and, hence, is close to theproximal parts of the toes or even the ball of the foot.

In the same way, the “lower” or “bottom” wall of the toe cap is the wallon which, when in use, the foot of the user is positioned, while the“upper” or “top” wall of the toe cap is the wall opposite to the bottomwall of the toe cap; the upper side of the wearer's foot is adjacent tothe toe cap's top wall. In embodiments of the toe cap of the presentinvention, the bottom wall of the toe cap may be absent or may be“reduced” to a small thin line of stabilizing toe cap material on thebottom side along, and adjacent to, the lower edges or the peripheralside wall.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a toe cap 1 for shoes. Toe capsare usually made of plastics or of a metal or metal alloy and aremounted in a front end of a shoe, for example of a safety shoe, towithstand external impact and thereby protect particularly the forefeet,i.e., the toes of a foot of a user of the shoe.

As shown in FIG. 1, the toe cap 1 of the invention comprises aperipheral wall 3 which is formed arcuate and which is capable ofcovering the front part 3 a and the two side parts (left hand and righthand side parts) 3 b, 3 c of the toe cap 1. The toe cap furthercomprises a top wall 5 and a bottom wall 7 which are capable of coveringthe top part 5 a and the bottom part 7 a of the toe cap 1. The top andbottom walls 5, 7 are connected to the arcuate peripheral wall 3integrally so as to form the toe cap 1.

The arcuate peripheral wall 3, the top wall 5 and the bottom wall 7together define a rear opening 8 of the toe cap 1, which rear opening 8is for the accommodation of all the toes of one foot of the user, i.e.the toes of one foot of a user are accommodated in the inner spacedefined by said peripheral wall 3, top wall 5 and bottom wall 7.

In accordance with the invention, the rearside edge 5 b of the top wall5, and preferably also the rearside edge of the bottom wall, has theshape of a letter “S”, which shape may be easily seen from FIGS. 1 and2. The major advantage of such a shape similar to the letter “S” is thecomplete accommodation of all toes of one foot of the user wearing theshoe with the toe cap 1 of the invention within the toe cap in aconvenient and non-restricted manner, in contrast to the prior art,where mainly the large toes were sufficiently protected, while the smalltoes were not.

In accordance with the invention, the toe cap 1 may be constructed notto have any holes at the top wall 5, as can be seen, for example, fromFIG. 2. However, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the toe cap1 is provided with a top wall 5 having at least one hole 5 c, preferablyhaving a number of holes 5 c, even more preferably having a number ofholes 5 c distributed throughout the whole surface of the top wall 5either regularly or irregularly. The term “regularly”, as used in thedescription and claims is intended to mean that the holes have asubstantially identical distance to the next-neighboring hole(s)throughout the top wall 5 of the toe cap 1. In contrast, a (partly orcompletely) irregular distribution of the holes means that the distancesof one hole to the next-neighboring hole(s) may be more or less (or atleast partly) different. A regular distribution of the holes 5 c ispreferred. Such hole or holes 5 c may serve a ventilation of the toearea of the foot of the user wearing the shoe including the toe cap 1.Such a ventilation not only improves the convenience of wearing such ashoe with a toe protection cap 1, but also prevents an accumulation ofsweat and/or humidity in the inner space of the toe cap 1. The lattermay prevent the generation of bad smells due to a growth ofsmell-generating bacteria and the occurrence of diseases at the foot or,specifically, at the toes.

In order not to loose strength of the toe cap 1 against impact, some ofthe holes 5 c at the toe cap top wall 5, preferably the majority of theholes 5 c at the toe cap top wall 5, even more preferably each hole 5 cin the surface of the top wall 5 of the toe cap 1 are/is surrounded by asystem of fillets 5 d. By providing the fillets 5 d around the hole(s) 5c, the toe cap material loss, by the holes 5 c, is compensated, and astrengthening effect is obtained. Hence, the impact strength of the toecap 1 is not deteriorated by providing the ventilation holes 5 c.

In an even more preferred embodiment of the invention, said fillets 5 daround the holes 5 c in the toe cap top wall surface form a hexagonaround the hole 5 c or around each hole 5 c. More preferably, the holeis located in the middle of the fillet hexagon, which position providesa particular strength to the top wall 5. In such a preferred embodimentof the invention, said hexagons form a honeycomb structure at the topwall surface of the toe cap 1. Such a honeycomb structure is capable ofstrengthening the toe cap against impacts despite the provision ofventilation holes in the top wall surface of the toe cap 1. Thus, thesame strength as in conventional toe caps can be obtained by providingthe honeycomb structure of fillets 5 d around each ventilation hole(s) 5c.

Furthermore, it is preferred in accordance with the present inventionthat said top wall surface has additional fillets 5 e extending from onepoint, especially from one hole, radially over the surface of the topwall 5. Such additional fillets 5 e may extend over the whole surface ofthe top wall 5 of the toe cap 1, and they extend preferably in astraight manner from one hole over the top wall surface, as can best beseen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. By such straight fillets 5 e, the toe capstructure may be strengthened additionally.

In an attempt to provide a toe cap 1 having less weight, material may beomitted at certain parts of the toe cap walls 3, 5, and 7. In order notto loose impact strength by omitting material, additional strengtheningmeasures may be taken: In one optional (i.e. not necessary) embodimentof the invention, the arcuate peripheral wall 3 may be provided withstrengthening fillets 3 d on its inside, i.e., on the side directed tothe inner space of the toe cap 1 directed to the toes of the wearer.When providing such additional fillets (which may extend in thedirection between the top and bottom walls 5, 7, of the toe cap 1), thestrength of the toe cap 1 may be improved. A toe cap 1 without suchfillets 3 d is preferred.

Omitting material, and thereby making the toe cap of the invention looseweight (which weight loss may be preferred for reasons of convenience ofwearing the low weight toe cap 1), can be achieved, in accordance withanother preferred embodiment of the invention, by an embodiment whereinsaid bottom wall 7 is formed of a fillet 7 b extending along theconnection of the bottom wall 7 to the peripheral wall 3, and continuingat the rear side edge into a fillet 7 c having the shape of a letter “S”and extending in parallel to the corresponding edge of the top wall 5,said filets 7 b, 7 c being bridged by at least one further strengtheningfillet 7 d. There may be provided two or even more further strengtheningfillets 7 d, but one additional strengthening fillet is particularlypreferred. By such a structure which is shown in FIG. 5 a specifically,the overall weight of the toe cap 1 may be reduced, without taking aloss of impact strength.

Even more preferred, in accordance with the invention, due to a furtherimprovement of the impact strength, is another embodiment wherein saidbottom wall fillets 7 b, 7 c, 7 d are provided with strengtheningfillets 7 e over their whole surface. Such strengthening fillets 7 e maybe of any conceivable type, but preferably said bottom wall fillets 7 b,7 c, 7 d are provided with honeycomb structure fillets 7 e, even morepreferred over their whole surface. Advantageously, the impact strengthof the toe cap 1 is improved further.

The material for toe caps 1 of the present invention may be selected bya skilled person in accordance with material selections made in theprior art, and the material may be adapted to the specific requirementsin each single case. In accordance with the skill, a material may beused for manufacturing the toe caps 1 of the present invention which isselected from the group consisting of plastics, for example hard polymermaterials like those used in the prior art, e. g. Kevlar^(R) orParaAmide^(R) (if a particular elasticity is required or desired,without giving up impact resistance/impact strength), reinforcedplastics (e.g. fiber-reinforced plastics (glass fiber-reinforced orcarbon fiber-reinforced or metal or metal oxide or metal boride or metalcarbide or metal nitride whiskers-reinforced), metal powder-reinforcedplastics), metal(s) or metal alloys. Particularly preferred are metalsor metal alloys, e. g. aluminum or steel, or fiber-reinforced plastics.As reinforcing fibers for polymers of the plastics material, such fibersknown from the prior art to achieve a plastics reinforcement may be usedwithout restriction. Glass fibers, carbon fibers or whiskers made ofmetals, metal oxides, metal borides, metal carbides or metal nitrides ortheir mixtures are preferably used, and glass fibers and carbon fibersare particularly preferred. Even more preferably, in one exemplary andpreferred embodiment of the invention, PA-6 (polyamide-6) may be used asthe plastics material. Alternatively, steel (e. g. (without restriction)steel 8620 (e. g. of BASF AG) or steel 1050 SAE) may be used.

The process for manufacturing such embodiments of toe caps 1 asdescribed above is not restricted, and a skilled person may selectmanufacturing processes in accordance with the requirements of eachsingle case.

In an exemplary embodiment, a sheet of a metal or of a metal alloy, forexample a steel sheet, may be punched from a larger piece of steel, andsuch a punched steel sheet is then deep-drawn or deep-pressed to obtainan integral body of the toe cap 1 of the invention. Such an integralbody may then be subjected to further process steps, as for examplepolishing steps and steps of applying a surface coating, so as to obtainthe final toe cap body.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the so-called MIM (metalinjection molding) process is used for manufacturing the toe caps 1 ofthe invention. In the MIM process, a powder of the metal used as thematerial for the toe cap 1 is comminuted to a stage as fine as necessary(e. g. to metal particles having a size in the range of between 0.1 and10 μm) and is admixed with suitable binders (e.g. waxes and/or polymersand/or cracking catalysts and/or solvents). In a preferred embodiment, amixture containing 60 to 80% by weight of metal (e. g. theabove-mentioned steels, but this does not restrict the invention; alsoother metal or metal alloy powders may be used) and 20 to 40% by weightof binder(s) is used. Such a mixture may be processed on conventionalinjection molding machines. A green body of the mixture used forinjection molding is prepared. In a subsequent step, the green body isheated stepwise to temperatures in the range of, for example, 100 to600° C., so as to thermally crack the binders (wax(es), polymer(s),catalyst(s), solvent(s)). As a result, a body of metal powder isobtained (so-called “brown body”). The brown body thus obtained is nowsintered under controlled temperature/gas conditions (e. g. 600 to1,400° C.; exemplary suitable gases: H₂, N₂, and/or Ar). A body nowhaving, for example, >96% of the final density is obtained by such asintering step. The surface of such a sintered body may be subjected tofurther processing steps as, for example, polishing steps and steps ofapplying a surface coating, so as to obtain the final toe cap body.

Toe caps of plastics materials, plastics materials comprising one typeor several types of fibers (as defined above) may, for example, bemanufactures by a usual injection molding process, as is well known to aperson skilled in this technical field. Hence, the detailed descriptionof the steps of such an injection molding process, its components andits conditions may be omitted here since they are known to a person inthis technical field.

Of course, any other step conceivable to a skilled person formanufacturing such a toe cap body of the invention may be used.

In accordance with the invention, a toe cap 1 is inserted into a shoe inorder to protect the shoe wearer's toes against impacts. Such impactsmay be impacts due to the work of a tool used by the wearer or byanybody else in his/her environment, may be impacts by heavy thingsfalling down, may be constructional materials, debris, pieces of sportsequipment etc.

Hence, the invention also relates to shoes comprising a toe cap 1 asdescribed above in detail. Such shoes may be safety shoes, protectiveshoes, occupation shoes, sports shoes, to name only a few of shoeswherein the toe cap of the invention may be used, without, however,restricting the invention to those shoes. In the European Union, suchshoes are standardized, with respect to requirements they have tofulfill, in the industrial standards ISO EN 20345 (safety shoes), ISO EN20346 (protective shoes) and ISO EN 20347 (occupation shoes).

Shoes provided with the toe caps 1 of the invention were tested firstwith respect to their strength to withstand to impacts by a heavy testobject falling down on the shoe provided with the toe cap or to impactsby a tool swinging to the side of the toe cap, and were tested secondlywith respect to the “foot climate” in the toe region due to a betterventilation of said region. The tests were conducted in accordance withstandardized test methods.

It was found that the toe region, due to the presence of the toe cap 1of the present invention, could be protected in an identically reliablemanner as in cases of using conventional toe caps, so that the shoespassed the standardized tests.

On the other hand, the “foot climate” was found to be much better thanin shoes having conventional toe caps, due to the fact that sweat andhumidity could escape from the toe region and could not accumulate inthat area. Hence, bad smells and diseases due to the action ofmicroorganisms in the toe area could be prevented from occurring.

The above description of the invention by its exemplary and preferredembodiments does not restrict the invention to these embodimentsdescribed. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims foundbelow.

Another second aspect of the toe cap of the present invention is nowdescribed in detail by referring to FIGS. 7 to 11, without, however,restricting the toe cap of the present invention, in its second aspect,to the embodiments shown in the FIGS. 7 to 11 and exemplarily explainedwhile referring to the FIGS. 7 to 11.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown a toe cap 1 for shoes. Toe capsare usually made of plastics or of a metal or metal alloy and aremounted in a front end of a shoe, for example of a safety shoe, towithstand external impact and thereby protect particularly the forefoot,i.e., the toes of a foot of a user of the shoe and the consecutive partof the foot adjacent to the toes.

When addressing the position of, and the views to, the toe cap of thepresent invention according to the second aspect, all indications of theposition are defined, in the present specification and in the claims, inthe position of use of the toe cap in the shoe. In accordance with sucha definition, the “front” side of the toe cap is that part of the capwhich is positioned at the front side of the shoe, or close to the toetips of the user wearing the shoe with the toe cap. The rear side of thetoe cap is the side positioned, during use of the toe cap, opposite tothe front side and “showing” to the middle part of the foot; the userenters into the toe cap (when the toe cap is entered into, or fixedwithin, the shoe) from the toe cap's rear side. In the same way, the“lower” or “bottom” wall of the toe cap is the wall on which, when inuse, the foot of the user is positioned, while the “upper” or “top” wallof the toe cap is the wall opposite to the bottom wall of the toe cap;the upper side of the wearer's foot is adjacent to the toe cap's topwall. In embodiments of the toe cap of the present invention, the bottomwall of the toe cap may be absent or may be “reduced” to a small thinline of stabilizing toe cap material on the bottom side along, andadjacent to, the lower edges or the peripheral side wall, which ispositioned immediately above the sole of the shoe or boot when the toecap is placed in the shoe/boot.

As shown in FIG. 7, the toe cap 1 of the invention comprises aperipheral wall 3 which is formed arcuate and which is capable of makingup the front part 3 a and the two side parts (left hand and right handside parts) 3 b, 3 c of the toe cap 1. The toe cap further comprises atop wall 5 and a bottom wall 7 which are capable of making up the toppart 5 a and the bottom part 7 a of the toe cap 1. The top and bottomwalls 5, 7 are extending to, and are connected to, the arcuateperipheral wall 3 integrally along the front side and the left and rightside of the toe cap 1 so as to form the toe cap 1.

The rear edges of the arcuate peripheral wall 3, of the top wall 5 andof the bottom wall 7 together define a rear opening 8 of the toe cap 1.This rear opening 8 opens a space for the accommodation of all the toesof one foot of the user, i.e. the toes of one foot of a user areaccommodated in the inner space defined by said peripheral wall 3, topwall 5 and bottom wall 7 (if any). The user's or wearer's foot entersthe inner space defined by said peripheral wall 3 and the top and bottomwalls (5, 7) by passing the rear opening 8.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rearside edge 5 b of thetop wall 5, and preferably also the rearside edge of the bottom wall, ifa bottom wall is present, has the shape of a letter “S”, which shape maybe easily seen from FIGS. 7 and 8. The major advantage of such a shapesimilar to the letter “S” is the complete accommodation of all toes ofone foot, and at least a part of the forefoot of the foot, of the userwearing the shoe with the toe cap 1 of the invention within the toe capin a convenient and non-restricted manner. This is in contrast to theprior art, where mainly the large toes were sufficiently protected,while the small toes were not.

In accordance with the invention, the toe cap 1 is constructed as havinga number of holes 5 c distributed at least throughout the whole surfaceof the top wall 5 either regularly or irregularly. The term “regularly”,as used in the description and claims is intended to mean that the holeshave a substantially identical distance to the next-neighboring hole(s)throughout the top wall 5 of the toe cap 1. In contrast, a (partly orcompletely) irregular distribution of the holes means that the distancesof one hole to the next-neighboring hole(s) may be more or less (or atleast partly) different. A regular distribution of the holes 5 c ispreferred. Such hole or holes 5 c may serve a ventilation of the toe andforefoot area of the foot of the user wearing the shoe including the toecap 1. Such a ventilation not only improves the convenience of wearingsuch a shoe with a toe protection cap 1, but also prevents anaccumulation of sweat and/or humidity in the inner space of the toe cap1.The latter may prevent the generation of bad smells due to a growth ofsmell-generating bacteria and the occurrence of diseases at the foot or,specifically, at the toes.

In order not to loose strength of the toe cap 1 against impact, eachhole 5 c at least in the surface of the top wall 5 of the toe cap 1 issurrounded by a system of fillets 5 d. By providing the fillets 5 daround the hole(s) 5 c, the toe cap material loss, by the holes 5 c, iscompensated, and a strengthening effect is obtained. Hence, the impactstrength of the toe cap 1 is not deteriorated by providing theventilation holes 5 c.

In accordance with the invention, said system of fillets 5 d at least insaid top wall 5 is existing as a closed network structure having saidholes as void spaces between said fillets 5 d. The term “closed networkstructure”, as used in the present specification and claims, is definedto mean that the filets 5 d, at least in the top wall 5 of the toe capof the invention, and preferably in the top wall 5 and in the arcuateperipheral wall 3 as well, are connected to each other in astructure-stabilizing manner and combined with each other so that, byestablishing said “closed network structure”, a continuous system offillets around said holes, or even around void spaces, is establishedthe stability and strength of which is at least not substantiallydeteriorated, preferably is not deteriorated, compared to a structurehaving no holes surrounded by fillets formed at the top wall and/or theperipheral front and/or side walls.

In accordance with the invention, such a closed network structure hassaid holes 5 c as void spaces 5 c between said fillets 5 d. The term“void spaces”, as used throughout the present specification and claims,is defined to mean that the surface area or surface areas between thefillets 5 d, for example the surface area of the top wall 5 and/or thesurface area of the arcuate peripheral wall 3 making up the front part 3a and/or the right and left side parts 3 b, 3 c of the toe cap 1, is/area void space or void spaces, i.e. have the material of the top wall 5and/or of the arcuate peripheral wall 3 omitted between the fillets 5 d.This can best be seen from the present FIGS. 7, 8, 10 and 11. It is oneparticularly surprising result of the present invention that, despitethe fact that the top wall material and/or arcuate peripheral wallmaterial was omitted between the system of fillets making up the closednetwork structure of fillets 5 d of the toe cap 1 of the presentinvention according to the second aspect, no loss of strength of theoverall toe cap 1 was observed, with the result that the toes and forefoot of a user wearing shoes with the included toe cap of the inventionare not only ventilated in an excellent manner, but also are protectedperfectly against impact by tools or falling debris.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, at least said top wall 5 ofthe toe cap 1 of the invention is provided with a number of holes 5 cregularly distributed throughout its surface. In such preferredembodiments, said holes 5 c are void spaces between said closed networkstructure of fillets 5 d formed at least at the top wall 5 of said toecap 1.

In accordance with the present invention, it is even more preferred thatsaid top wall 5, i.e. the top wall 5 only, is provided with a number ofholes 5 c regularly distributed throughout its surface, said holes 5 cbeing void spaces between said closed network structure of fillets 5 dformed at the top wall 5 of said toe cap 1. Already with such anembodiment, a substantially improved ventilation of the user's toes andfore foot may be achieved, without decreasing the overall strength ofthe toe cap 1 against mechanical impact.

It is another preferred embodiment of the invention that said arcuateperipheral wall 3, i.e. the arcuate peripheral wall 3 only, is providedwith a number of holes 5 c regularly distributed throughout its surface,said holes 5 c being void spaces between said closed network structureof fillets 5 d formed at the arcuate peripheral wall 5 of said toe cap1. Already with such an embodiment, a substantially improved ventilationof the user's toes and fore foot may be achieved, without decreasing theoverall strength of the toe cap 1 against mechanical impact.

In an alternative, albeit also preferred embodiment of the inventionaccording to the second aspect, said top wall 5, and said arcuateperipheral wall 3 capable of making up the front part 3 a and the twoside parts 3 b, 3 c of the toe cap 1 as well, are provided with a numberof holes 5 c regularly distributed throughout their surface, said holes5 c being void spaces between said closed network structure of fillets 5d formed at the top wall 5 and at the arcuate peripheral wall 3 of saidtoe cap 1. In such an embodiment, the ventilation is even more improved.Surprisingly, the additional holes/void spaces 5 c in the arcuateperipheral wall 3 do not deteriorate the stability and strength featuresof the overall toe cap 1 at all.

In an even more preferred embodiment of the invention, said fillets 5 daround the holes or void spaces 5 c in the toe cap's top wall surfaceand/or in the toe cap's arcuate peripheral wall surface form a hexagonaround each of the holes/void spaces 5 c. By arranging a larger numberof hexagon arrangements of fillets 5 d adjacent to each other, theabovementioned closed network structure of fillets 5 d formed at the topwall 5 and/or at the arcuate peripheral wall 3 of said toe cap 1 isachieved, whereby each of such hexagons surrounds a void space formed atthe respective surface of the toe cap 1. In other words: The hexagontype system of fillets 5 d surrounds areas of the top wall surfaceand/or arcuate peripheral wall surface, which areas are void spaces. Ineven more preferred embodiment of the invention, a larger number ofadjacent hexagons of fillets 5 d form a honeycomb structure at the topwall surface and/or at the arcuate peripheral wall surface of the toecap 1. Such a honeycomb structure is capable of strengthening the toecap against impacts despite the provision of ventilation holes 5 c orvoid spaces 5 d in the top wall surface and/or in the arcuate peripheralwall surface of the toe cap 1. Thus, the same strength as inconventional toe caps can be obtained by providing the honeycombstructure of fillets 5 d around each ventilation hole(s) 5 c/void spaces5 c for ventilation.

Furthermore, it is preferred in accordance with the present inventionaccording to its second embodiment that said top wall surface and/orsaid arcuate peripheral wall surface has additional fillets 5 eextending from one point at said rear side edge 5 b of the top wall 5and radially across the whole surface at least of the top wall 5.Theterm “radially extending”, as used in the present specification andclaims, is defined to mean that said point, at the rear side edge 5 b ofthe top wall 5 of the toe cap 1, may be considered as being the centerof a (theoretical) circle, and said additional fillets 5 e have theorigin in said circle center and extend from said center throughout thetop wall surface radially towards the rim of said (theoretical) circle.This can easily be seen from FIGS. 7, 8 and 11. By such additionalfillets 5 e, the toe cap structure may be additionally strengthened.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention having additionalbenefits, there are additional fillets 5 e extending from one point atsaid rearside edge 5 b of the top wall surface radially across the wholesurface of the top wall 5 and of the arcuate peripheral wall 3, therebyforming continuous additional fillets 5 e extending from their “origin”at the rearside edge of the top wall 5 of the toe cap 1. By such astructure, a further strengthening the toe cap structure can beachieved.

In accordance with the invention according to its second aspect, it isparticularly preferred that the toe cap 1 has additional fillets 5 eextending from one point located substantially in the middle, relativeto said side parts 3 b, 3 c of the arcuate peripheral wall 3, at saidrearside edge 5 b radially across the whole surface of the top wall 5and of the arcuate peripheral wall 3. By positioning the “origin” of theadditional fillets 5 e in the middle of the rearside edge 5 b, relativeto the side parts 3 b, 3 c of the arcuate peripheral wall 3, andallowing the additional fillets 5 e to extend from said origin point,the toe cap structure can be additionally strengthened.

The number of such additionally strengthening fillets 5 e is notparticularly restricted, and a skilled person may select such number inaccordance with the needs. It may be noted that an increasing number ofsuch additional fillets 5 e may contribute to an improvement of thestrength, but may also adversely influence the ventilation properties,since the space available for voids for ventilation decreases. However,in further preferred embodiments of the invention, the number of suchadditional fillets 5 e extending across the whole surface of the topwall 5 and of the arcuate peripheral wall 3, and particularly preferablyextending in equal angular distances to each other, is between three andfive, as can best be seen in FIGS. 7, 8 and 11. By such additionalfillets 5 e arranged in equal angular distances to each other, the toecap structure may be strengthened even further, and a good ventilationof the inner space of the toe cap according to the invention isnevertheless possible.

In an attempt to provide a toe cap 1 having less weight, material may beomitted at certain parts of the toe cap walls 3, 5, and 7. In order notto loose impact strength by omitting material, additional strengtheningmeasures may be taken: In one optional (i.e. not necessary) embodimentof the invention, the arcuate peripheral wall 3 may be provided withstrengthening fillets 3 d on its inside, i.e., on the side directed tothe inner space of the toe cap 1 directed to the toes of the wearer, incase that no hexagon fillet—void structure is provided at the arcuateperipheral wall 3 of the toe cap 1 of the invention, although this isnot a preferred embodiment. When providing such additional fillets(which may extend in the direction between the top and bottom walls 5,7, of the toe cap 1), the strength of the toe cap 1 may be improved. Atoe cap 1 without such fillets 3 d is preferred.

Omitting material, and thereby making the toe cap of the invention looseweight (which weight loss may be preferred for reasons of convenience ofwearing the low weight toe cap 1), can be achieved, in accordance withanother preferred embodiment of the invention, by an embodiment whereinsaid bottom wall 7 consists of a rim 7 b extending from, and beingconnected to, the arcuate peripheral wall 3 along its front and two sideparts 3 a, 3 b, 3 c in a substantially perpendicular arrangement. Suchan embodiment may best be seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, which clearly showthat the “bottom wall” 7 is no longer a full area bottom wall 7 but isonly a rim along the lower end of the arcuate peripheral wall 3extending from said arcuate peripheral wall 3, along its front and sideparts 3 a,3 b, 3 c, in an angle of more or less 90°, allowing aconvenient placement of the front parts of the toes of the user and ofthe respective side parts of the outer (left and right) toes and of thefore foot on said rim 7 b.

In a further preferred embodiment, said rim 7 b is of a width allowing aconvenient placement of the forefoot sole and underside of the toes onit, and in an even more preferred embodiment, the rim 7 b is of a widthwithin a range of from 0.5 to 5 centimeters (cm), without restrictingthe invention to such a value or to any value in the above range. Noloss of impact strength of the overall toe protection cap has to betaken by such an embodiment of the invention.

Advantageously, the impact strength of the toe cap 1 is improved furtherby a toe cap of the invention wherein additional fillets 5 f areprovided along the upper and lower peripheral edges connecting the topand bottom walls 5, 7 to the arcuate peripheral wall 3. Such a preferredembodiment may best be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. Such additional fillets5 f may include fillets 5 f along the rear side edge of the top andbottom walls 5, 7 and/or along the rear side edge of the two side parts3 b, 3 c of the arcuate peripheral wall 3, i.e. at the rear side edgesforming the rear opening 8 of the toe cap 1. Such additional fillets 5 fadvantageously contribute to an improvement of the strength of the toecap 1 as a whole.

It is further preferred in accordance with the present invention thatthe additional fillets 5 e, 5 f may comprise grooves 5 g running within,and in parallel to, the additional fillets 5 e, 5 f. Such embodimentsare shown in the FIGS. 7, 8 and 11. The grooves take away material fromthe additional fillets 5 e, 5 f, i.e. contribute to a reduction of theoverall weight of the toe cap 1 of the invention, and they do not harmstability and strength properties of the toe cap 1.

The material for toe caps 1 of the present invention may be selected bya skilled person in accordance with material selections made in theprior art, and the material may be adapted to the specific requirementsin each single case. In accordance with the skill, a material may beused for manufacturing the toe caps 1 of the present invention which isselected from the group consisting of plastics, for example hard polymermaterials like those used in the prior art, e. g. Kevlar^(R) orParaAmide^(R) (if a particular elasticity is required or desired,without giving up impact resistance/impact strength), reinforcedplastics (e.g. fiber-reinforced plastics (glass fiber-reinforced orcarbon fiber-reinforced or metal or metal oxide or metal boride or metalcarbide or metal nitride whiskers-reinforced), metal powder-reinforcedplastics), metal(s) or metal alloys. Particularly preferred are metalsor metal alloys, e. g. aluminum or steel, or fiber-reinforced plastics.As reinforcing fibers for polymers of the plastics material, such fibersknown from the prior art to achieve a plastics reinforcement may be usedwithout restriction. Glass fibers, carbon fibers or whiskers made ofmetals, metal oxides, metal borides, metal carbides or metal nitrides ortheir mixtures are preferably used, and glass fibers and carbon fibersare particularly preferred. Even more preferably, in one exemplary andpreferred embodiment of the invention, PA-6 (polyamide-6) may be used asthe plastics material. Alternatively, steel (e. g. (without restriction)steel 8620 (e. g. of BASF AG) or steel 1050 SAE) may be used.

The process for manufacturing such embodiments of toe caps 1 asdescribed above is not restricted, and a skilled person may selectmanufacturing processes in accordance with the requirements of eachsingle case.

In an exemplary embodiment, a sheet of a metal or of a metal alloy, forexample a steel sheet, may be punched from a larger piece of steel, andsuch a punched steel sheet is then deep-drawn or deep-pressed to obtainan integral body of the toe cap 1 of the invention. Such an integralbody may then be subjected to further process steps, as for examplepolishing steps and steps of applying a surface coating, so as to obtainthe final toe cap body.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the so-called MIM (metalinjection molding) process is used for manufacturing the toe caps 1 ofthe invention. In the MIM process, a powder of the metal used as thematerial for the toe cap 1 is comminuted to a stage as fine as necessary(e. g. to metal particles having a size in the range of between 0.1 and10 μm) and is admixed with suitable binders (e.g. waxes and/or polymersand/or cracking catalysts and/or solvents). In a preferred embodiment, amixture containing 60 to 80% by weight of metal (e. g. theabove-mentioned steels, but this does not restrict the invention; alsoother metal or metal alloy powders may be used) and 20 to 40% by weightof binder(s) is used. Such a mixture may be processed on conventionalinjection molding machines. A green body of the mixture used forinjection molding is prepared. In a subsequent step, the green body isheated stepwise to temperatures in the range of, for example, 100 to600° C., so as to thermally crack the binders (wax(es), polymer(s),catalyst(s), solvent(s)). As a result, a body of metal powder isobtained (so-called “brown body”). The brown body thus obtained is nowsintered under controlled temperature/gas conditions (e. g. 600 to1,400° C.; exemplary suitable gases: H₂, N₂, and/or Ar). A body nowhaving, for example, >96% of the final density is obtained by such asintering step. The surface of such a sintered body may be subjected tofurther processing steps as, for example, polishing steps and steps ofapplying a surface coating, so as to obtain the final toe cap body.

Toe caps of plastics materials, plastics materials comprising one typeor several types of fibers (as defined above) may, for example, bemanufactured by a usual injection molding process, as is well known to aperson skilled in this technical field. Hence, the detailed descriptionof the steps of such an injection molding process, its components andits conditions may be omitted here since they are known to a person inthis technical field.

Of course, any other step conceivable to a skilled person formanufacturing such a toe cap body of the invention may be used.

In accordance with the invention, a toe cap 1 is inserted into a shoe inorder to protect the shoe wearer's toes against impacts. Such impactsmay be impacts due to the work of a tool used by the wearer or byanybody else in his/her environment, may be impacts by heavy thingsfalling down, may be constructional materials, debris, pieces of sportsequipment etc.

Hence, the invention also relates to shoes comprising a toe cap 1 asdescribed above in detail. Such shoes may be safety shoes, protectiveshoes, occupation shoes, sports shoes, to name only a few of shoeswherein the toe cap of the invention may be used, without, however,restricting the invention to those shoes. In the European Union, suchshoes are standardized, with respect to requirements they have tofulfill, in the industrial standards ISO EN 20345 (safety shoes), ISO EN20346 (protective shoes) and ISO EN 20347 (occupation shoes), forexample.

Shoes provided with the toe caps 1 of the invention were tested firstwith respect to their strength to withstand to impacts by a heavy testobject falling down on the shoe provided with the toe cap or to impactsby a tool swinging to the side of the toe cap, and were tested secondlywith respect to the “foot climate” in the toe region due to a betterventilation of said region. The tests were conducted in accordance withstandardized test methods.

It was found that the toe region, due to the presence of the toe cap 1of the present invention, could be protected in an identically reliablemanner as in cases of using conventional toe caps, so that the shoespassed the standardized tests.

On the other hand, the “foot climate” was found to be much better thanin shoes having conventional toe caps, due to the fact that sweat andhumidity could escape from the toe region and could not accumulate inthat area. The results were even better than the results achieved withtoe caps having holes mainly at the surface of the top wall. Hence, badsmells and diseases due to the action of microorganisms in the toe areacould be prevented from occurring.

The above description of the invention by its exemplary and preferredembodiments does not restrict the invention to these embodimentsdescribed. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims foundbelow.

Another (third) aspect of the toe cap of the present invention is nowdescribed in detail by referring to FIGS. 12 to 15, without, however,restricting the toe cap of the present invention, in its third aspect,to the embodiments shown in the FIGS. 12 to 15 and exemplarily explainedwhile referring to the FIGS. 12 to 15.

Referring now to FIG. 12, there is shown a toe cap 1 for shoes, boots orother footgear. Toe caps are usually made of plastics or of a metal ormetal alloy and are mounted in a front end of a shoe or boot, forexample of a safety shoe, to withstand external impact and therebyprotect particularly the forefoot, i.e., the toes of a foot of a user ofthe shoe and the consecutive part of the foot adjacent to the toes.

When addressing the position of, and the views to, the toe cap 1 of thepresent invention according to the third aspect, all indications of theposition are defined, in the present specification and in the claims,when addressing also the third aspect of the invention, in the positionof use of the toe cap 1 in the shoe. In accordance with such adefinition, the “front” side or “front part” of the toe cap 1 is thatpart of the cap which is positioned at the front side of the shoe, orclose to the toe tips of the user wearing the shoe with the toe cap. Therear side of the toe cap is the side positioned, during use of the toecap, opposite to the front side and “showing” to the middle part of thefoot. The user enters into the toe cap (when the toe cap is enteredinto, or fixed within, the shoe) from the toe cap's rear side.

In the same way, the “lower” or “bottom” wall of the toe cap is the wallon which, when in use, the foot of the user is positioned, while the“upper” or “top” wall of the toe cap is the wall opposite to the bottomwall of the toe cap; the upper side of the wearer's foot is adjacent tothe toe cap's top wall. In embodiments of the toe cap of the presentinvention, the bottom wall of the toe cap may be absent or may be“reduced” to a small thin line of stabilizing toe cap material on thebottom side along, and adjacent to, the lower edges or the peripheralside wall, which is positioned immediately above the sole of the shoe orboot when the toe cap is placed in the shoe/boot.

As shown in FIG. 12, the toe cap 1 of the invention comprises aperipheral wall 3 which is formed arcuate and which is capable of makingup the front part 3 a and the two side parts (left hand and right handside parts) 3 b, 3 c of the toe cap 1. The toe cap further comprises atop wall 5 and a bottom wall 7 which are capable of making up the toppart 5 a and the bottom part 7 a of the toe cap 1. The top and bottomwalls 5, 7 are extending to, and are connected to, the arcuateperipheral wall 3 integrally along the front side and the left and rightside of the toe cap 1 so as to form the toe cap 1.

The rear edges of the arcuate peripheral wall 3, of the top wall 5 andof the bottom wall 7 together define a rear opening 8 of the toe cap 1which may best be seen in FIGS. 13 and 15. This rear opening 8 opens aspace for the accommodation of all the toes of one foot of the user,i.e. the toes of one foot of a user are accommodated in the inner spacedefined by said peripheral wall 3, top wall 5 and bottom wall 7 (ifany). The user's or wearer's foot enters the inner space defined by saidperipheral wall 3 and the top and bottom walls (5, 7) by passing therear opening 8.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rearside edge 5 b of thetop wall 5, and preferably also the rearside edge of the bottom wall, ifa bottom wall is present, has the shape of a letter “S”, which shape maybe easily seen from FIGS. 13 and 14. The major advantage of such a shapesimilar to the letter “S” is the complete accommodation of all toes(including the small toes) of one foot, and at least a part of theforefoot of the foot, of the user wearing the shoe with the toe cap 1 ofthe invention within the toe cap in a convenient and non-restrictedmanner. This is in contrast to the prior art, where mainly the largetoes were sufficiently protected, while the small toes were not, due tothe rearside edge 5 b of the top wall 5 being a straight line leavingthe major part of the small toes unprotected.

In accordance with the invention in its third aspect, the arcuateperipheral wall 3 makes up (or forms) the front part 3 a and the two(left and right) side parts 3 b and 3 c and has upper edges which areconnected to, and merge into, the front, left and right edges of the topwall 5. These connecting and merging parts of the arcuate peripheralwall 3 and top wall 5 form stabilizing parts of the toe cap of theinvention and proceed along lines of stabilizing force.

In the same way, if a bottom wall 7 is existing or if only narrow partsof toe cap material of a bottom wall 7 along the lower edges of thearcuate peripheral wall 3 are existing, the arcuate peripheral wall 3has lower edges which are connected to, and merge into, the front, leftand right edges of the bottom wall 7 or, alternatively, to/into saidnarrow parts of material substituting the bottom wall 7. Theseconnecting and merging parts of the arcuate peripheral wall 3 and bottomwall 7 form stabilizing parts of the toe cap of the invention andproceed along lines of stabilizing force.

In addition, the arcuate peripheral wall 3, at its left and right edgesmerging to the rear edge 5 b of the top wall 5, has rear edges in theform of fillets connecting the top wall 5 and the bottom wall 3, if any.

In accordance with the present invention, in its third aspect, which canbe seen from FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, at least the top wall 5, andpreferably only the top wall 5, is made of at least three longitudinalfillets 5 p, 5 q, 5 r, preferably exactly of three longitudinal fillets5 p, 5 q, 5 r, extending from the tip T of the toe cap 1 radially to itsrear edge 5 b, and at least one transverse fillet 5 t extendingsubstantially in the form of a segment of a circle around the tip T ofsaid toe cap 1 as the center.

Alternatively or together with the feature described above, inaccordance with the invention in its third aspect, the arcuateperipheral wall 3 has at its side parts alternating vertical 3 p andinclined 3 q fillets connecting the upper and lower edges of the arcuateperipheral wall 3. Similarly to this feature, the rear edges of thearcuate peripheral side wall may be considered as vertical fillets 3 p.The inclination angle of the inclined fillets 3 q may be selected by askilled person according to the requirements of best stabilization andmay be for example, but without restricting the invention to this angle,45°, measured in relation to the horizontal plane on which the toe caprests.

In accordance with the invention, in its third aspect, the fillets 5 p,5 q, 5 r, 5 t, 3 p, 3 q leave between them a number of regular orirregular holes or voids distributed at least throughout the toe cap topwall 5 and arcuate peripheral side wall 3 surfaces. Such holes or voids(not having any toe cap material and, thereby, reducing the weight ofthe toe cap of the invention drastically, without giving up the toecap's protection properties for the toes and forefoot of the user) mayhave any desirable shape, depending, of course, upon the width andcourse of the fillets described above. Triangular or rectangular/squareshapes of the holes may be provided, but also irregular shapes arepossible. The FIGS. 12 to 15 show only a selection of the shapes of theholes/voids, which, however, is not restricting.

By providing such fillets in the top 5 (and optionally bottom 7) wallsand in the arcuate peripheral side wall, the fillets 5 p, 5 q, 5 r, 3 pand 3 q provided are strengthening the toe cap 1 along its lines ofstabilizing force. In other words: If external forces are acting on ashoe or boot comprising a toe cap 1 of the present invention,particularly (but not exclusively) in its third aspect, the effectstabilizing the toe protection cap 1 within the shoe or boot, andthereby protecting the toes and forefoot of the wearer of the shoe/boot,makes use of the stabilizing forces existent exactly along the lines ofthe toe cap 1 which are formed by the edges and fillets existent in saidarea, and by the stabilizing effects of those fillets connecting theselines. By such stabilizing forces, a maximum special maintenance can beobtained with a minimum of material, thereby reducing weight of the toecap 1 (which is favorable for the user) without giving up protectionproperties (thereby meeting all requirements set up by law, guidelinesand rules governing the protection of the human body during working,sports etc.

The material for toe caps 1 of the present invention may be selected bya skilled person in accordance with material selections made in theprior art, and the material may be adapted to the specific requirementsin each single case. In accordance with the skill, a material may beused for manufacturing the toe caps 1 of the present invention which isselected from the group consisting of plastics, for example hard polymermaterials like those used in the prior art, e. g. Kevlar^(R) orParaAmide^(R) (if a particular elasticity is required or desired,without giving up impact resistance/impact strength), reinforcedplastics (e.g. fiber-reinforced plastics (glass fiber-reinforced orcarbon fiber-reinforced or metal or metal oxide or metal boride or metalcarbide or metal nitride whiskers-reinforced), metal powder-reinforcedplastics), metal(s) or metal alloys. Particularly preferred are metalsor metal alloys, e. g. aluminum or steel, or fiber-reinforced plastics.As reinforcing fibers for polymers of the plastics material, such fibersknown from the prior art to achieve a plastics reinforcement may be usedwithout restriction. Glass fibers, carbon fibers or whiskers made ofmetals, metal oxides, metal borides, metal carbides or metal nitrides ortheir mixtures are preferably used, and glass fibers and carbon fibersare particularly preferred. Even more preferably, in one exemplary andpreferred embodiment of the invention, PA-6 (polyamide-6) may be used asthe plastics material. Alternatively, steel (e. g. (without restriction)steel 8620 (e. g. of BASF AG) or steel 1050 SAE) may be used.

The process for manufacturing such embodiments of toe caps 1 asdescribed above is not restricted, and a skilled person may selectmanufacturing processes in accordance with the requirements of eachsingle case.

In an exemplary embodiment, a sheet of a metal or of a metal alloy, forexample a steel sheet, may be punched from a larger piece of steel, andsuch a punched steel sheet is then deep-drawn or deep-pressed to obtainan integral body of the toe cap 1 of the invention. Such an integralbody may then be subjected to further process steps, as for examplepolishing steps and steps of applying a surface coating, so as to obtainthe final toe cap body.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the so-called MIM (metalinjection molding) process is used for manufacturing the toe caps 1 ofthe invention. This was described above specifically for the manufactureof the toe caps of the present invention in its second aspect, and theMIM process may be applied also for the manufacture of the toe caps ofthe invention in its third aspect in the same way, so that anotherdescription of the same process is obsolete here.

Toe caps of plastics materials, plastics materials comprising one typeor several types of fibers (as defined above) may, for example, bemanufactured by a usual injection molding process, as is well known to aperson skilled in this technical field. Hence, the detailed descriptionof the steps of such an injection molding process, its components andits conditions may be omitted here since they are known to a person inthis technical field. In the present invention in its third process, themanufacture of the toe caps 1 made of any of the above plasticsmaterials by an injection molding process is particularly preferred andadvantageous due to its easy and convenient mass production results.

Of course, any other step conceivable to a skilled person formanufacturing such a toe cap body of the invention may be used.

In accordance with the invention, a toe cap 1 is inserted into a shoe inorder to protect the shoe wearer's toes against impacts. Such impactsmay be impacts due to the work of a tool used by the wearer or byanybody else in his/her environment, may be impacts by heavy thingsfalling down, may be constructional materials, debris, pieces of sportsequipment etc.

Hence, the invention also relates to shoes comprising a toe cap 1 asdescribed above in detail. Such shoes may be safety shoes, protectiveshoes, occupation shoes, sports shoes, to name only a few of shoeswherein the toe cap of the invention may be used, without, however,restricting the invention to those shoes. In the European Union, suchshoes are standardized, with respect to requirements they have tofulfill, in the industrial standards ISO EN 20345 (safety shoes), ISO EN20346 (protective shoes) and ISO EN 20347 (occupation shoes), forexample.

Shoes provided with the toe caps 1 of the invention were tested firstwith respect to their strength to withstand to impacts by a heavy testobject falling down on the shoe provided with the toe cap or to impactsby a tool swinging to the side of the toe cap, and were tested secondlywith respect to the “foot climate” in the toe region due to a betterventilation of said region. The tests were conducted in accordance withstandardized test methods.

It was found that the toe region, due to the presence of the toe cap 1of the present invention, could be protected in an indentically reliablemanner as in cases of using conventional toe caps, so that the shoespassed the standardized tests.

On the other hand, the “foot climate” was found to be much better thanin shoes having conventional toe caps, due to the fact that sweat andhumidity could escape from the toe region and could not accumulate inthat area. The results were even better than the results achieved withtoe caps having holes mainly at the surface of the top wall. Hence, badsmells and diseases due to the action of microorganisms in the toe areacould be prevented from occurring.

It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely forthe purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limitingof the present invention. While the present invention has been describedwith reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is understood that thewords which have been used herein are words of description andillustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made,within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and asamended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the presentinvention in its aspects. Although the present invention has beendescribed herein with reference to particular means, materials andembodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to theparticulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends toall functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as arewithin the scope of the appended claims.

1. A toe cap for shoes, wherein the toe cap comprises an arcuateperipheral wall capable of covering a front part and two side parts ofthe toe cap, a top wall and a bottom wall capable of covering top andbottom parts, respectively, of the toe cap and being connected to thearcuate peripheral wall, said walls defining a rear opening for a user'stoes to be accommodated in a space defined by said walls, and whereinthe top wall comprises a rearside edge having the shape of a letter “S”.2. The toe cap of claim 1, wherein said top wall comprises holesregularly or irregularly distributed throughout its surface.
 3. The toecap of claim 2, wherein at least some holes in the surface of the topwall are surrounded by a fillets to strengthen the toe cap.
 4. The toecap of claim 3, wherein the fillets form hexagons around the holes, saidhexagons forming a honeycomb structure at the top wall surface of thetoe cap.
 5. The toe cap of claim 3, wherein the top wall surfacecomprises additional fillets extending from one point or hole radiallyover the entire surface of the top wall, thereby additionallystrengthening the toe cap structure.
 6. The toe cap of claim 1, whereinthe peripheral wall comprises strengthening fillets on its side directedto an inner space.
 7. The toe cap of claim 1, wherein the bottom wall isformed of a first fillet extending along a connection of the bottom wallto the peripheral wall, continuing at a rearside edge into a secondfillet having a shape of a letter “S” and extending in parallel to acorresponding edge of the top wall, said first and second filets beingbridged by at least one further strengthening fillet.
 8. The toe cap ofclaim 7, wherein said bottom wall fillets are provided withstrengthening fillets over their entire surface.
 9. The toe cap of claim8, wherein said bottom wall fillets are provided with honeycombstructure fillets.
 10. The toe cap of claim 1, wherein the toe cap ismade of at least one material selected from plastics, reinforcedplastics, metals and metals alloys.
 11. The toe cap of claim 10, whereinthe toe cap is made of at least one of steel and fiber-reinforcedpolyamide.
 12. The toe cap of claim 1, wherein the toe cap is made asone upper half cap and one lower half cap and connected to the toe capbefore further use.
 13. A toe cap for shoes, wherein the toe capcomprises an arcuate peripheral wall capable of making up a front partand two side parts of the toe cap, a top wall and a bottom wall capableof making up top and bottom parts, respectively, of the toe cap andbeing connected to the arcuate peripheral wall, rear edges of said wallsdefining a rear opening for a user's toes to be accommodated in a spacedefined by said walls, wherein at least the top wall comprises holesregularly or irregularly distributed throughout its surface, each holebeing surrounded by fillets strengthening the toe cap, and wherein saidfillets at least in said top wall are present as a closed networkstructure comprising said holes as void spaces between the fillets. 14.The toe cap of claim 13, wherein at least the top wall comprises holesregularly distributed throughout its surface, said holes representingvoid spaces between a closed network structure of fillets formed atleast at the top wall of the toe cap.
 15. The toe cap of claim 13,wherein the top wall comprises holes regularly distributed throughoutits surface, said holes representing void spaces between a closednetwork structure of fillets formed at the top wall of the toe cap; orwherein the top wall and the arcuate peripheral wall capable of makingup a front part and two side parts of the toe cap comprise holesregularly distributed throughout their surfaces, said holes representingvoid spaces between a closed network structure of fillets formed at thetop wall and at the arcuate peripheral wall of the toe cap.
 16. The toecap of claim 13, wherein a closed network structure of fillets formshexagons around each void space.
 17. The toe cap of claim 13, whereinthe top wall comprise a rearside edge having a shape of a letter “S”.18. The toe cap of claim 13, wherein at least the top wall surface hasadditional fillets extending from one point at a rearside edge radiallyacross the entire surface of at least the top wall, thereby additionallystrengthening the toe cap structure.
 19. The toe cap of claim 13,wherein the toe cap further comprises additional fillets along upper andlower peripheral edges connecting the top and bottom walls to thearcuate peripheral wall.
 20. The toe cap of claim 19, wherein theadditional fillets comprise grooves running within, and in parallel to,the additional fillets.
 21. The toe cap of claim 13, wherein the bottomwall comprises a rim extending from, and being connected to, the arcuateperipheral wall along its front and two side parts in a substantiallyperpendicular arrangement.
 22. The toe cap of claim 13, wherein the toecap is made of at least one material selected from plastics, reinforcedplastics, metals and alloys of metals.
 23. The toe cap of claim 13,wherein the toe cap is made as one upper half cap and one lower half capand connected to the toe cap before further use.
 24. A toe cap (1) forshoes or boots or footgear, wherein the toe cap comprises an arcuateperipheral wall capable of making up a front part and two side parts ofthe toe cap, a top wall and a optionally a bottom wall capable of makingup top and (optionally) bottom parts, respectively, of the toe cap andbeing connected to the arcuate peripheral wall, rear edges of said wallsdefining a rear opening for a user's toes to be accommodated in a spacedefined by said walls, wherein at least the top wall comprises at leastthree longitudinal fillets extending from a tip of the toe cap radiallyto its rear edge, and at least one transverse fillet extendingsubstantially in a form of a segment of a circle around the tip of thetoe cap, and/or the arcuate peripheral wall comprises at its side partsalternating vertical and inclined fillets connecting upper and loweredges of the arcuate peripheral wall, said fillets leaving between themregular or irregular holes or voids distributed at least throughout toecap top wall and arcuate peripheral side wall surfaces, and wherein thefillets strengthen the toe cap along its lines of stabilizing force. 25.The toe cap of claim 24, wherein the top wall comprises a rearside edgehaving a shape of a letter “S”.
 26. The toe cap of claim 24, whereinonly the top wall is made of at least three longitudinal filletsextending from the tip of the toe cap radially to its rear edge.
 27. Thetoe cap of claim 24, wherein the toe cap is made of at least onematerial selected from plastics, reinforced plastics, metals and alloysof metals.
 28. A footgear or shoe comprising the toe cap of claim
 1. 29.The footgear or shoe of claim 28, wherein the footgear or shoe is asafety shoe, a protective shoe, an occupation shoe, or a sports shoe.